Nasca Hummingbirds: Case Studies in Ceramic Iconography and Cultural Ecology

Julia Greer Testa

Advisor: Dr. Astrid Runggaldier

Abstract

This thesis investigates the iconography of hummingbirds on three Nasca ceramic vessels housed in the Art and Art History Collection (AAHC), situating these objects within the broader artistic, cultural, and ecological framework of Nasca society. With consideration to the culture’s uniquely volatile climate on the southern coast of Peru and the variety of ways in which they adapted to their arid environment, this study contextualizes a wide corpus of Nasca art, characterized by natural symbolism like agriculture, flora, and fauna. To frame an investigation into the recurring hummingbird motif, analysis focuses on a broader collection of the Nasca’s agricultural and faunal ceramic imagery in the AAHC, narrowing to a detailed study of its hummingbird objects. These vessels are then compared to similar artifacts from other institutions to identify broader patterns in the depiction of hummingbirds across Nasca ceramics. Ultimately, I argue that the hummingbird iconography of the three ceramic vessels is reflective of a broader thematic preoccupation in Nasca art, one that encapsulates the culture’s complex connection with their environment and their enduring concern with its aridity. Building on previous interpretations of the hummingbird’s connection to agricultural practice and water, I advance a new perspective that centers its role as an avian pollinator. This ecological analysis enriches the understanding of the hummingbird’s symbolic significance and the Nasca people’s profound awareness of their interdependence with the natural world.